Table and leaf construction



A ril 11, 1939. D D LL 2,154,125

TABLE AND LEAF CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 11, 1937 INVENTOR A ORNEY Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a table construction and it particularly relates to an expansible table construction.

It is often desirable inthe usual type of folding leaf or gate leg table to make the table of adjustable size so that it may accommodate different numbers of persons.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved gate leg or collapsible table construction, which, although of relatively inexpensive construction and low cost, will firmly support considerable weight when extended.

Another object is to provide an improved gate leg or expandible table construction, in which,

although there are a plurality of folding extension leaves of difierent sizes, nevertheless said extension leaves will not detract from the appearance of the table, nor interfere with the utilization of the table when collapsed or when extended in whole or part.

Other objects will be obvious or will appear during the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory to form the table of a central permanent base leaf or top element, to the sides of which are attached swinging leaves of different widths or lengths which are designed to be collapsed against the side of the top element or main fixed leaf, or which may be extended to permit of the seating of additional persons at the table.

The long or wide leaf may be recessed sufiiciently adjacent its hinged mount to receive the short or narrow leaf, when the two leaves are collapsed together or when the two leaves are both extended to extend the table to the maximum extent. As a result in these two positions, the outside faces of the short leaf and the long leaf will be flush and the table will function as if it had a single long leaf. M

However, when the table is to be extended only by the short leaves, a snap hinge construction is brought into play which will support the short leaf in extended position and which may be readily snapped down to permit the leaf to be collapsed into its recess in the main leaf construction.

The short leaf is preferably of such a width 0 and size so that when extended it will permit comfortable seating of people and allow sufficient room for the knees of people sitting at the table, and at the same time its supports should be of sufiicient rigidity as to support firmly any materials or articles which may be placed upon the table, even though the gate legs are not employed to support the short leaf.

Referring to the drawing, which shows several of the various possible embodiments according to the present invention by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, since many variations, alterations and modifications are all possible within scope of the present application:

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the table with the short and long leaves collapsed together and the gate legs moved together.

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view with the table extended to its maximum extent and with a portion of the table top partly broken away to show the construction and support thereof by the gate legs.

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the table in which one of the short leaves is extended, while the accompanying long leaf is collapsed.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the table construction of Fig. 2 with both the short and long leaves extended upon an enlarged scale.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary transverse sectional views upon the lines 5-5 and G-6 of Fig. 4, respectively, upon an enlarged scale, showing the long leaf collapsed and the short leaf in extended position, Fig. 5 showing the swinging hinge and snap hinge support for the short leaf and Fig. 6 showing the hinge construction for the long leaf.

Fig. 7 is a transverse fragmentary section view similar to Fig. 5, showing an alternative snap hinge construction.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, the table as shown consists of a main leaf A, short extension leaves B and long extension leaves C. The gate leg assemblies D support the main leaf A and are designed to be extended, as shown in Fig. 2, to support the long leaves C when extended. The snap hinge construction E supports the short leaves B when extended in the manner as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 5, the main table element A is connected at its bottom II to the inturned ends l2 at the upper ends of the legs l3 of the inside gate leg elements H by the screws Ill.

The bottom of the gate leg element l4 rests flatly at I5 upon the floor. The swinging element l6 of the gate leg assembly D is hinged as indicated at ll to one of the side edges of the inside gate leg element l4 and it may be swung into collapsed position as shown in Fig. 1 or into extended position as shown in Fig. 2 to support the leaves C.

The main leaf C, as best shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is recessed as indicated at 18 to receive the short leaf B, the recess having the width and depth necessary to receive said leaf B. The main leaf C, as shown best in Fig. 6, has the hinge connection F to the top A. The hinge F includes the plates l9 and 20 which are connected by the screws 2| and 22 to the bottom faces of the main top element A and the leaf element C respectively.

When the leaf is swung up into extended position, as shown in Fig. 2, the edge face 23 of the leaf C (see Fig. 6) will abut the edge face 24 of the main table element A.

As shown in Fig. 5 the short leaf B is provided with a hinge G, which includes a flat plate 25 screwed at 26 to the bottom face ll of the table l0 and also a right angle plate 21, the end flange portion 28 of which is screwed at 29 to the bottom face of the short leaf B.

As indicated in Fig. 5, when the short leaf B is extended, the plate 21 abuts the side face of the main table element A. When both leaves are extended, as indicated in Fig. 2, or collapsed, as indicated in Fig. 1, the right angle plate 2'I28 will fit into the recessed portion 30 of the main leaf C, (see Fig. 5).

The short leaf B is normally supported by the snap hinge E, the pivotal end mounting plates 3! and 32 of which are fixed in the bottom of recesses 33 and 34 respectively. The support E is provided with the two leg elements 35 and 36, which are pivotally connected to the end elements 3i and 33 and also to each other at 31.

The spring 38 normally retains the snap hinge in either opened or closed position, as indicated in solid lines or in dotted lines in Fig. 5 respectively. When the leaf is in opened position, as indicated in Fig. 5, the abutment at 39 between the adjacent inside ends of the legs 35 and 36 will firmly support the leaf B in extended position. The leaf B then may only be collapsed when the finger is inserted inside of the legs 35 and 36 and the snap hinge is broken at 39.

It will be noted that the recesses 33 and 34 are of sufficient depth to receive the snap hinge E, when collapsed, as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 5, the recess 34 having a sloping base at 4|] to receive the inside element leg 36 of said snap hinge E. when collapsed.

In operation, one or both of the short leaves B may be extended to enlarge the table a slight amount to accommodate a number of additional persons and the hinge E will automatically snap into position, as shown in Fig. 5, when the leaf or leaves B are lifted. The width 5| (see Fig. 4) of the leaf B is such that there will be sufficient room for the knees of the persons sitting at the adjacent end of the table, as shown in Fig. 3, without interference by the main depending leaf C.

To. collapse the table the fingers are inserted inside of the pivot mounts 31. The pivot mounts 31 are pressed downwardly and outwardly and thereupon the leaf B may be lowered into the recess l8 in the main hanging leaves C.

When the table is to be extended, to its maximum extent, the main leaves C may be elevated from the position as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 and the swinging elements [6 of the gate leg assemblies D may be moved outwardly to an angle of with the fixed elements l4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the construction as shown in Fig. '7 (corresponding parts being indicated by the same numerals primed as in Figs. 1 to 6), the inside plate 25 of the hinge G of the short leaf B is mounted upon an apron 50 which extends down from and may be rigid with the top element A. The inside connection 32' of the snap hinge E is mounted directly upon said apron 50, instead of on the main leaf C and the slot 34' permits elevation or lowering of the main leaf C without operation of the snap hinges E when the leaf B has been previously extended.

The main leaf C upon being lifted will receive said short leaf to form a flush surface as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5, if the short leaf B is already extended, it will be necessary first to lower the short leaf B into its recess H; by collapsing the snap hinge E to elevate the main leaf C. Where the snap hinge E is supported directly upon the table structure itself and not upon the leaf C, as is shown in Fig. 7, the short leaf B may be left in extended position when the long leaf C is lifted. When the outer leaf C is elevated from the position shown in Fig. 1, the short, leaves B will be lifted with the main leaf C and without operation of the snap hinge or hinges E in the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 or with automatic operation of the hinge E in the embodiment of Fig. 7. It will be noted that the hinges E are concealed at all times and the slots or recesses 34 in the inside leaf are not readily apparent and do not mar or disfigure or detract from the appearance of the table.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has constructed an improved compact, ornamental table of novel appearance of unusual utility without sacrificing the structure or rigidity thereof. The double leaf construction permits the table to be more readily adapted to varying numbers of persons and the hinge constructions are all well concealed so as not to mar or detract from the desired appearance of the table.

It is obvious that the combined leaf construction B and C may be associated with cabinets, dressers, desks, and other furniture, than tables, and it is intended to include within the scope of the claim the double leaf construction B and C, as shown in Figs. 1 to '7, whether it be attached to a table or to some other article of furniture.

If desired, the various types of readily detachable snap fasteners (not shown) might be utilized upon the adjacent faces 10 of the leaf B and H of the leaf C (see Fig. 3). By this means the leaf B would be held firmly in position with the upper surface portion of the main leaf C when both leaves are dropped together as indicated in Fig. l or extended together as indicated in Fig. 2.

In addition, the recess H3 in the leaf C might be made of greater depth than the thickness of the short leaf B, and the bottom face of said leaf B might be provided with felt strips or rubber contact points to space it from the bottom of the recess l3 and. assure that the faces of the leaves B and C will be flush.

The corners l2 and 12 as indicated in Figs. 5 to '7 might be cut off or beveled so as to permit the leaves B and C to be moved together more readily to either the position shown in Fig. 1 or the position shown in Fig. '2. The recessed structure J3 might be made of skeleton structure or of a lattice work to decrease the weight of the main leaf C. The skeleton structure or lattice Work may consist of extensions of the hinges carrying the main leaf C which may then terminate at 'H.

Desirably the bottom of the main leaf C is provided with stops to limit the movement of the movable legs I6 and reinforcing members may be positioned below the top of the table A extending between the upper ends of the fixed legs M to reinforce such legs and prevent them from being too readily dislodged.

In utilization the luncheon drop leaf B may be utilized for small luncheons, for bridge and for small parties and in general for an impromptu table. The main drop leaf C, which may be termed the dinner leaf or ensemble leaf, normally will be only used for formal occasions such as large dinners and so forth.

By the expression Width, as applied to the leaves B and C, is meant the dimension of such leaves in the direction extending parallel to the pivot axes of the hinge constructions F and G, while the expressions short, long and length refer to the distance of the outside edge of the leaves B and C from said pivot axis which leaves are also respectively referred to as the inside and outside leaves.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular features of collapsible table construction designed, and in methods of operation set forth, and in specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific description herein merely serving to illustrate certain elements by which, in one embodiment, the spirit of the invention may be effectuated.

What is claimed is:

1. An extensibleleaf construction comprising a main support member and inside and outside extension leaf members independently pivotally mounted on a side of said support memher and independent means supporting said inside and outside leaf members in elevated position, both said leaf members being of substantially the same width and both of said leaf members nesting together, when both are extended or both are collapsed and said inside leaf memher being capable of being elevated and supported in said elevated position independently of the outside leaf member.

2. An extensible table construction comprising a main top member and inside and outside extension drop leaf members independently pivotally mounted on a side of said main table member and independent means supporting said inside and outside leaf members in elevated position, both said leaf members being of substantially the same Width and both of said leaf members nesting,

together, when both are extended or both are collapsed so that their exterior faces will be flush and said inside leaf member being capable of being elevated and supported in said elevated position independently of the outside leaf member.

3. An extensible table construction comprising a main top member and inside and outside extension drop leaf members independently pivotally mounted on a side of said main table member and independent means supporting said inside and outside leaf members in elevated position, both said leaf members being of substantially the same width and both of said leaf members nesting together, when both are extended or both are collapsed so that their exterior faces will be flush, said inside leaf member being capable of being elevated and supported in said elevated position independently of the outside leaf member, said independent means including a snap hinge for the inside leaf memher and a swinging leg for the outside leaf member.

4. An extensible table construction comprising a main top member and inside and outside extension drop leaf members independently pivotally mounted on a side of said main table member and independent means supporting said inside and outside leaf members in elevated position, both said leaf members being of substantially the same Width and both of said leaf members nesting together, when both are extended or both are collapsed so that their exterior faces will be flush and said inside leaf member being capable of being elevated and supported in said elevated position independently of the outside leaf member, said outside leaf member being provided with a recess adjacent its pivot mount of sufficient depth and dimension to receive the inside lea-f member and the depth of the recess and the thickness of the inside leaf member being substantially the same.

5. An extensible table construction comprising a main top member and inside and outside extension drop leaf members independently pivotally mounted on a side of said main table member and independent means supporting said inside and outside leaf members in elevated position, both said leaf members being of substantially the same width and both of said leaf members nesting together, when both are extended or both are collapsed so that their exterior faces will be flush and said inside leaf member being capable of being elevated and supported in said elevated position independently of the outside leaf member, said independent means including a snap hinge for the inside leaf and a depending apron carried by the table member carrying the other end of the snap hinge from the one connected to the inside leaf.

6. An extensible table construction comprising a main top member and inside and outside extension drop leaf members independently pivotally mounted on a side of said main table member and independent means supporting said inside and outside leaf members in elevated position, both said leaf members being of substantially the same width and both of said leaf members nesting together, when both are extended or both are collapsed so that their exterior faces will be flush and said inside leaf member being capable of being elevated and supported in said elevated position independently of the outside leaf member, said independent means including a swinging rectangular leg member to support said outside leaf when in elevated position and. a conforming fixed rectangular leg member for supporting said table member, said leg members being pivotally connected at their adjacent side edges.

DAVID DILLON. 

